Germany’s Christian Ahlmann and his brilliant stallion Taloubet Z claimed the victory in the fifth leg of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2017/2017 Western European League on home ground in the Schleyer Halle in Stuttgart last 20th November.
40 horse-and-rider combinations from 14 countries started in the competition.
19 qualified for the second-round jump-off against the clock. 11 produced double-clear performances. Extraordinary talented horses and riders competed in the jump-offs but were the superstar 16-year-old stallion Taloubet Z and his rider, the world number1, Christian Ahlmann to lead the final ranking with more than a two-second margin.
They stopped the clock on 42.85 seconds, they were untouchable for the win. Christian and Taloubet are so joined together that it’s enough for him to think that the horse understands!

Christian Ahlmann and Taloubet Z. Photo Stefano Secchi

Christian Ahlmann and Taloubet Z. Photo Stefano Secchi

“Everything worked out the way I wanted, we had an amazing run and Taloubet did an amazing job! - said 41-year-old Ahlmann - He was in great shape and he has been for the whole season” added the rider who also won the Stuttgart leg of the series last year with Codex One. “Taloubet is a very fast horse but I had no real plan in the jump-off, I just knew I had to take every risk if I wanted to win!
He has asuper team around him, they take care every single step he does - his home groom, his show groom, his rider, his blacksmith, everyone does a good job to make sure he’s always in top shape. He feels fresh, like a young horse, he knows every situation in the world and it’s easy to train and keep him fit, so he will do some big shows and continue to enjoy the sport, but no more big finals for him”. Taloubet won’t go to the 2017 Final however because it has been decided that the horse who helped secure Olympic team bronze as well as the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ title for Germany this year will be taking it relatively easy in future.
Ahlmann and Taloubet Z won the FEI World Cup™ Jumping title at Leipzig, Germany in 2011.